We must do better to prevent disasters
President Obama just announced plans to shut down all 104 nuclear plants in the U.S. for a first-ever safety inspection.
Half of these units are more than 30 years old with 43 percent having been operational when Three Mile Island occurred in 1979. Sixteen sit on known active earthquake faults! What are we thinking? Why has it taken until 2011 and the crisis in Japan for this safety inspection?
We still are prone to be reactive toward disaster planning than proactive.
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the annual hurricane season along the Gulf Coast are further proof.
Nuclear energy is here to stay, regardless of the outcome of the crisis in Japan. It is not the hazards this industry brings, but the lack of leadership at the national level in how we prepare. The risks are too great to simply sit on our hands until an event occurs, then react to it.
We are the most powerful nation on earth and one of a handful of genuine democracies. We can and must do better.
JAMES W. ANDERSON
Talladega, Ala.
Replacement rate for aircraft is slow
To replace the existing Air Force aircraft, at the current procurement rate, will take from 48-90 years. Understand that procurement rate is not the actual delivery rate. Procurement is a funding rate.
Almost half of the procurement rate through FY2016 will be for non-piloted MC-9 Reaper, Spectre and Global Hawk. (Currently in Afghanistan these aircraft face no hostile aircraft.)
During FY2012 to FY2016, the F-35 (Lightning) procurement rate averages 40 aircraft per year. All F-35 aircraft delivered to date are test aircraft. All computer programming, necessary to make them operational, has not been completed.
As Air Force aircraft age, each will require a share of the Air Force budget for annually increasing maintenance.
At any time of conflict, the Air Force fights with the aircraft it possesses, not with aircraft in production.
The purpose and mission of the military is to defend the interests of the United States. These interests and treaties are established by the State Department and other government departments. They are subject to activities generated by foreign governments and/or individuals. The Air Force complies with the leadership and policies of the United States government. A current example is the U.N. no-fly zone for Libya.
ARTHUR R. MacFADDEN
Lt. Col. (Ret.) USAF
Chaplains funding aids a worthy cause
A Fort Oglethorpe City Council meeting compelled me to find facts concerning volunteer chaplains serving the city and county.
The chaplains receive no monetary payment for assisting (at any time) firemen and policemen with deaths, car accidents, critical incident stress debriefing, robberies, shootings and counseling personnel with personal problems.
The non-profit Southern Cross Ministries consists of nine chaplains. Board members include: Randy Camp, Bruce Ballew, Steve Wilson, Phil Summers, Teddy Harris, Clayton Brown and Howard Halthour.
Chaplains submitted an itemized expense list to the city. Determined amount of $5,000 (per year) was established and three councilmen voted approval. The contract was signed by a chaplain representative.
The money helps pay for: cell phone for the agency, fuel, maintenance, insurance, office supplies, training, Bible for each station, personnel emergency and extended illness assistance.
Major calls that chaplains have responded to: Ellison cave where two people died, road rage, shootings, Chickamauga Battlefield search/rescue, I-75 pile-up, tree on house in Rossville and numerous fires with fatalities.
Thanks to the Fort Oglethorpe councilmen who voted to support this very important group who makes life less stressful for our firemen and policemen and community.
CHARLOTTE G. DODD
Fort Oglethorpe
Wording in story is out of place
On the front page of the Times Free Press (March 16) was an article titled "Local man, 50, killed in gunfire" written by Beth Burger.
Shortly into the story, I had to look at the top of the page to make sure I was still reading a newspaper and not a novel. The use of adjectives and her descriptions, such as "She laid her head full of braids ...," "His cold body was transported..." and my favorite, "She smoked cigarettes in a folding chair...".
Although the reading may keep a person in a "I can't put this book down" mood, I don't believe it should belong in a news story and can't believe the editors let it "slide."
CANDICE McCALLIE
Lookout Mountain, Ga.
Losing historic names regretful
Re: dropping the "T.C. Thompson" from the Children's Hospital:
As a historian, it saddens me to realize that Erlanger hospital finds it necessary to remove the name of former Chattanooga Mayor T.C. Thompson from the title of the local Children's Hospital.
T.C. Thompson was mayor from 1909-1915 - a century ago. Is it acceptable to change the name since his service to our city was so "long ago" that no one remembers him?
It's already happened to the Bachman Tubes, named in honor of U.S. senator (1933-1937) and former Chattanooga resident, Nathan L. Bachman. For all intents and purposes, the tunnel which goes through Missionary Ridge into East Ridge is now commonly called the East Ridge Tunnel.
What's next - the Olgiati Bridge? Mayor Rudy Olgiati served our city from 1951-1963. Perhaps his bridge over the Tennessee River will keep the name a few more decades until a time when it will blandly be known as the Freeway Bridge.
It is regretful to lose sight of the individuals who made positive changes in our community. I think it would be nice if Chattanooga would continue to honor our forefathers for longer than just 100 years.
LYNN HARRIS